Episode #2

Challenge to find good engineers with Andrew Balak

Welcome to Podcast #2. Don’t forget:

Our SUPER sponsor. Fuga Veloce – Italian for Fast Escape.
Our competition. Imagine getting driven around Sydney like a movie star in a Ferrari 360 spider. Leave a review in iTunes within the first 10 episodes and you could be a winner! To be announced in Episode 11.
Our drinking game. You can’t have a beer with an engineer without having a drinking game!! Anytime Dom says “ummm” drink up… and we can add “so” from Mel.

About Andrew Balak

Andrew Balak is an incredibly experienced engineer. He is currently the Chief Estimator at BMD Group and has been friends with Dom for many, many years, going through high school and university together.

Andrew originally planned to study geology but ended up following in his Dad’s footsteps (the engineer he most admires) and chose to study engineering instead. Very early on he experienced a work highlight by being part of the ANZAC Bridge engineering crew. What an amazing job to work on so early in someone’s career!

Andrew is very passionate about his job and loves the highs and lows experienced. He understands that the victories are hard fought and are to be savoured and enjoyed as a team.

It certainly takes a very special individual to do his role. He loves the challenge of his position to balance risk with cost.

Engineering is a brilliant industry. It will teach you to think. By studying engineering, you will become a natural problem solver and learn to think laterally. And there will always be a need in the industry for lateral thinkers.

Hot Topics discussed

Staff retention.. And the challenge to actually find good staff.
Younger staff are getting paid a lot more money than they are probably worth

During this podcast, you will reflect on:

Engineers make it happen!
The ability of engineers to leave a legacy
The engineering industry goes through cycles which you will need to learn to ride
Implementing STEM in schools is not going to provide an immediate solution to the problems going on in the industry
Ideally the industry needs sustainable growth